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Bird feeding is not an easy thing. You cannot simply put some bird food on a plate and set it under a tree. Soon there will be other uninvited guests eating all of the food and leaving nothing for the birds. Mice, squirrels and raccoons are some of the animals that will eat up the wild bird seed. Squirrels rank at the top of the chain and the pilfering habits of squirrels deprive the wild birds of their food. The only thing that can be done is to make your bird feeder squirrel proof.

There are many different bird feeders on the market for the wild species of birds you would like to attract. You will find that many of them are topped with plastic domes to keep the pesky squirrels from getting the wild bird food. The squirrel proof bird feeders have plastic domes fitted at the top and at the bottom. When the squirrels try to climb up the pole or descend the suspension wire they encounter the deterrent. Unable to tackle it they fall to the ground, spilling a little bit of seed in the process, which they eat. But the amazing thing is the creatures try this very trick again and again till they are full. Squirrels definitely find ingenuous ways of getting what they want from a squirrel proof bird feeder.

Squirrel proof feeders come with chambers that allow only small birds to enter and gain access to food, while preventing squirrels from doing so. A plastic coated metal netting around the bird feeder works as a perfect deterrent. Only the beaks of the birds reach the food ports. Do not apply jelly on the poles or the suspension wires. Though this may prevent the squirrels from eating the food meant for the migratory birds, the jelly may stick to the wings of some birds and make flying difficult for them.

Meat for one may be poison for another, or so goes the old saying. Though it is unlikely that squirrels would know that a certain food is poisonous, they certainly would not think twice about devouring these foods, which is why squirrel proof feeders are needed. Cardinals, chickadees, titmice, and other species of birds love safflower seeds whereas squirrels hate them. Niger thistle is also not favored by squirrels much. Adding these foods to your bird feeding program is a definite way of making your bird feeder squirrel resistant.

Getting the attention of birds of varied species is actually a fun and a relaxing way to spend time with your whole family right in your own backyard. Everything basically starts by providing the right bird feeding environment. And the only way to do that is by having plenty of wild bird food in an appropriate feeder. Choosing the right bird feeder for your yard starts by understanding the species that are indigenous to your area, as well as those that you wish to attract. So how do you choose the most ideal bird feeder?

The first thing to do is to learn more about the varied types of feeders. In general, the various species of birds can use any one of the four varieties of feeders, which are the hopper bird feeders, tube feeders, tray feeders, and the suet bird feeders. The most common of them are the hopper feeders and typically they look like a gazebo or a barn. On the other hand, a tube feeder is cylindrical in shape and is designed with a number of perches, with tiny holes in the tube for feeding. Tray feeders, also called platform feeders or ground feeders, can provide you with an unobstructed view of birds since you can place these feeders close to the ground. These types of feeders generally have an open design. Suet feeders are made from wires and hold suet cakes. Aside from these four common types, there is also the Hummingbird feeder, which will attract this incredibly unique bird for your viewing pleasure.

The next step is to decide which wild birds you wish to attract. Birds of various species call for different types of wild bird seed; however, hopper feeders are ideal for all types of birds and birdseed. If you wish to attract smaller birds, such as Nuthatches or Chickadees, then tube feeders are suitable. Larger species can easily use the platform or ground feeders. It also helps a lot to check and observe your backyard for predators and seed stealing animals; the biggest nuisances being the squirrels. It is practical, therefore, to go for squirrel-free bird feeders like the tube or suet feeders. These are good squirrel proof feeders, which the animals often have a hard time raiding.

Birds of different species, in general, will accept any bird seed. Also, your bird feeders should always be kept clean; otherwise, dirt, mold and bacteria might develop on the feeder and might be hazardous to the birds. There are some considerations you need to think about when it comes to caring for migratory birds. The most important of it all is to have the proper feeder and lots of food, especially through the long, cold winter months.